Last year, I had a superb harvest of cantaloupe melons from my garden. I absolutely love cantaloupe melons but they don’t store well for the long-term, so I gave many away to my friends and family. With lots remaining, I turned to my friends for suggestions on how to use the rest. I hated to …
As our world changes rapidly, and more people struggle to keep up with its fast-paced demands, it comes as no surprise that many folks want to become homesteaders. This way of life often referred to as “living the dream” is, of course, the dream of many. For those who intend to make the change, the …
Countless people living in a variety of situations are keeping and rearing animals to make a profit. The list of animals that are kept is huge, but not all of them will achieve a profit. One of the most popular animals to keep for profit in the United States is the rabbit. So, are rabbits …
Permaculture was first introduced as a concept in the 1970s by David Holmgren and Bill Mollison while the two were studying environmental design at a university in Australia. Despite the fact that it is not a necessarily modern concept, many people have never heard of permaculture. The idea behind permaculture is simple. Holmgren and Mollison …
With the introduction of the Homestead Act of 1862, previously unsettled land in the western portions of the United States became an attractive option to thousands of people. These pioneers were looking for a new way of life, but in order to attain it, they had to have certain skills. Traveling in covered wagons, grouped …
Pigs have a reputation for being smelly, so who would want to keep these animals? Well, these animals are quite clean, and providing they have plenty of space to move around in the smell is dissipated. There are plenty of people who do not worry about the smell, they keep them to boost their food …
Personal catastrophes are happening all the time. National and global crises can have a devastating effect on countless people causing hard times for everyone. In recent history, the oil crisis caused a stock market crash in 1973-74… The Iranian Revolution made the recession that hit during the time of President Carter in 1980 worse… A …
Not everyone is fortunate enough to have easy access to an abundant wood supply that, with the help of a chainsaw, can be turned into firewood. For many people who need firewood for their log burner, there is only one option: to find a local supplier. Now, not everyone needs a whole cord of wood, …
Today, more people than ever are planning to be food self-sufficient. Many others have spare garden areas that they want to grow crops on and hence avoid buying expensive store produce. Growing seasonal produce makes it difficult to maintain supplies throughout the year. I have a patch of potatoes that are growing at the moment …
A root cellar is an essential facility for anyone planning to grow enough food to feed their family through the winter season. Most root cellars are located below, or at least partially below ground for produce to last longer. A root cellar can be anything from a trash can buried in the soil to a …
